Ex-Texas A&M football player found guilty of murder

The Associated Press

Updated
12:10 pm CDT, Tuesday, April 30, 2019

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 10: Wide receiver Thomas Johnson #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies is tackled by defensive back Dee Milliner #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 10, 2012 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. less

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 10: Wide receiver Thomas Johnson #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies is tackled by defensive back Dee Milliner #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on ... more

Photo: Mike Zarrilli, .

Photo: Mike Zarrilli, .

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 10: Wide receiver Thomas Johnson #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies is tackled by defensive back Dee Milliner #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 10, 2012 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. less

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 10: Wide receiver Thomas Johnson #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies is tackled by defensive back Dee Milliner #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on ... more

Photo: Mike Zarrilli, .

Ex-Texas A&M football player found guilty of murder

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DALLAS (AP) — A former Texas A&M football player accused of hacking a Dallas jogger who to death with a machete in 2015 has been convicted of murder.

A Dallas County jury swiftly returned a guilty verdict Tuesday in Thomas Johnson's trial in the killing of David Stevens after the former wide receiver's legal defense declined to call a single witness.

Johnson was accused of waiting on a trail in East Dallas four years ago and attacking the 53-year-old mechanical engineer as he ran by. Prosecutors have said the 25-year-old Johnson confessed to the seemingly random killing and that DNA evidence also pointed to his guilt.

The verdict, which came a day after the trial began, follows years of legal dispute over whether Johnson was mentally competent to be tried.

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